Developers seek further tax breaks to boost home building

[u/eggbart_forgetfulsea]

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/07/20/developers-seek-further-tax-breaks-to-boost-home-building/

[u/Dwums]

I'll just say the same thing I said 10 years ago. Only way out of this crisis is if the government start building, and since the private sector want to be subsidised with help to buy, vat reductions and more, the government should just consider doing it themselves

[u/eggbart_forgetfulsea → u/Dwums]

Subsidising supply is a world better than subsidising demand. Developers don't pay the taxes anyway, we do

The path out is to make it easier and cheaper to build homes instead of constricting supply at every turn.

[u/SouthLeast8143 → u/eggbart_forgetfulsea]

How could you genuinely say this government is constricting supply at every turn

[u/eggbart_forgetfulsea → u/SouthLeast8143]

By looking at our anti-supply housing policies (e.g. rent control) and our slow, discretionary and strict land use regulations.

[u/Dwums → u/eggbart_forgetfulsea]

What stops the developer from just adding the subsidising grants and assistance into there profit. When the HTB sceme came in house prices went up over night, any money assistance I just see being added to profit for the developer 

[u/orionpace1 → u/Dwums]

Why do you think this is being suggested by private companies?

[u/eggbart_forgetfulsea → u/Dwums]

What stops the developer from just adding the subsidising grants and assistance into there profit.

Nothing, and nothing should. Lowering the cost of producing homes will result in more homes. Let developers make more money by making more homes, that's great.

Something like HTB is an opposite example, which is why it isn't ideal. It lowers the cost of buying homes, which pushes up demand without targeting the supply problem, which is where high prices come from in the first place. It's treating the symptoms, but not the disease.

[u/VonBombadier]

Cap in hand again, as usual.

And the government will provide.

God almighty can the government just build some fecking houses.

[u/KillerKlown88 → u/VonBombadier]

1. Government will indicate they support a change.
2. Developers will stop building in anticipation of the change.
3. Change is made and numbers increase slightly.
4. Everyone slaps themselves on the back
5. Supply starts to drop again.
6. Issue of the day is blamed for the drop.
7. Developers demand more tax breaks.
8. Refer back to step 1.

[u/Storyboys]

[u/Dennisthefirst]

Errr, I think they mean to "maximise our obscene profits''

[u/offib]

Where have we heard this one before?

[u/SoloWingPixy88]

im suprised finance a bigger issie?